HOUSTON -- The call came in a little after 1 a.m. early Tuesday morning. PJ Tucker saw the caller ID and shook his head. James Harden was calling to talk about the Houston Rockets' demoralizing loss to the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals on Monday. Tucker wasn't sure if the MVP front-runner was calling to vent or cheer him up. Either way, he was in no mood.
"I was so mad I didn't answer the phone," Tucker told ESPN Wednesday night after the Rockets righted the ship to win Game 2 127-105 and salvage a split on their home court.